How to Get Rid of a Headache Fast

Headaches are a very common problem. People of all ages get headaches from time to time. They can cause unbearable pain along with nausea and, at times, vomiting.

Common causes of headaches include stress, tension, restlessness, sinus problems, migraines, lack of sleep and dehydration.

Many people reach for over-the-counter medicines to get rid of their headaches. However, you can get instant pain relief using some easy and natural home remedies.

For example, gently pressing the webbed area between your thumb and index finger for about a minute can help ease your headache. Repeat on your other hand as well.

Here are the top 10 ways to get rid of a headache fast.

1. Water

If the cause of your headache is dehydration, you can easily get relief from the pain by rehydrating your body.

Simply drink a glass of water at the first sign of a headache and continue taking small sips throughout the day.

Along with water, you can have sports drinks. The electrolytes present in sports drinks can treat headaches caused by tension and dehydration.

When suffering from a headache, stay away from drinks like alcohol that can dehydrate your body.

2. Ice Pack

Placing a cold compress like an ice pack on your forehead will numb the pain, help shrink the blood vessels and improve circulation to the area. This particular remedy works well for headaches due to stress or sinus problems.

Wrap some ice cubes or crushed ice in a thin towel. Hold it against your forehead for a few minutes. A bag of frozen vegetables can also serve as an icepack. Never apply ice directly on your skin as it can damage the skin.

Alternatively, apply a cold cloth on your head and temples for 10 minutes and repeat the process for some time until you get relief.

3. Hot Water

Applying heat on the back of your neck can relieve headaches caused by stress. Heat relaxes tense muscles, thus alleviating the throbbing pain.

Simply apply a hot water bag to the back of your neck or take a hot shower directing the water onto the back of your neck.

Another option is to fill a tub with bearable hot water and put your hands in it for 10 to 15 minutes. This will improve blood circulation and thus give you relief from the headache.

If you suffer from chronic headaches, you can dip your legs in a bucket filled with hot water for 10 minutes before going to bed.

4. Lemon

Drinking warm water mixed with juice squeezed from one-half of a lemon will reduce the intensity of a headache. This particular remedy is beneficial for headaches caused by gas in the stomach.

Another option is to apply lemon crusts, pounded into a paste, on your forehead to immediately relieve pain.

5. Apple

Both apples and apple cider vinegar can be used to fight off a headache. They help restore the acid-alkaline balance in the body. Furthermore, simply the smell of green apples can help reduce migraine headaches.

When you wake up in the morning with a headache, eat a piece of apple sprinkled with some salt. Then drink some warm water.

Alternatively, fill a large bowl with steaming hot water and add 3 to 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to it. Hold a towel over your head and take in the steam for 10 to 15 minutes.

Another option is to add 2 teaspoons of some apple cider vinegar to a glass of water. You can also add a little honey and lemon juice. Drink it 2 or 3 times a day.

222 Comments

shashi shaw

first of all,thanx for your information.i liked your post so much as it’s very informative & beneficial for us.from today onward,i’ll opt for your tips if required because taking pain killer so often is not good for our health specially for heart.

Bre

Sabrina

isaiah

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Ryan

Branden hj

mary1mary

What’s the matter with you? Why would you post something like that? Your lack of compassion is similar to what’s destroying humanity. I feel sorry for you. Share a smile, say a sincere kind word to someone else, and forgive someone who’s wronged you and you can clean your slate and start over. Wishing YOU more happiness and love!

lori

anonymous

the water one does not work do not try it if you have a migraines try the one with water and lemon juice then if you have a headache that means your dehydrated don’t drink water first get a cloth or paper towel i recommend a paper towel then soak it in water then when done squeeze dripping water off then make sure the cloth or paper towel is still wet lay back put cloth or paper towel on forehead then keep it on for about thirty minutes to an hour then you take it off you can watch TV while its on your forehead then it should be healed but if not drink a glass of COLD water or two glasses or take a COLD bath or an ice pack to put on your forehead hot water does NOT work or you could do yoga or go to sleep for a while and a glass of water with lemon juice helps to this works if you are allergic to certin cloths or lemons do NOT use this.

Aditi Das

cally widen

try the ICE pack!! It really works. It takes away all the tension. Also u might be haveing a bad headache because of school or work or maybe kids so drink alot of water and put an ice pack on your forhead! 😀

fred

paul kamoga

Yeah I have been having a forehead headache for ten days nonstop!…and It was not responding to all the kinds of painkillers I have been using.I went to the chemist and he told me that I could be having a sinus infection.But jst today morning wen I put a small pillow pack of ice water for about an hour,the headache went.Till now its about twelve hours its gone already…still watching though….Amazing.!!!!!

jordan

alysia

drinking warm water with lemon its starting to take the pressure away hopefully i can fully get rid of it ,im gunna try some more of these remedies if the headache isnt completely gone soon…thanks soo much im gunna share this to my fb page

Glenis Watera

I have used the peppermint oil when i have a headache and for migraines. This has allowed me to stop using prescribed medication. I also use lavender oil at night time. use peppermint during the day and lavender at night.

Jessica cooper

Ever since i was about 7 years old i have had terrible migraines my face would turn beat red and i would have to go to bed. I had Adhd so i took meds. Turns out those meds cased the migraines im 15 and still have migraines about every day.

Yogan

THANKS A LOT !!!! I was suffering from unbearable headache for past 12 hours …. !! i even vomitted once … still it pains … but now its gone… tht lemon juice helped me .. i got a quick relief .. THANK U SO MUCH !!!!!

Ace H

Kayla

I think this is awesome i came from school with a huge headache then i try to find a website i tried 10 different ones until i found this one and it is great i did one of its suggestions and BINGO it works.

Hannah

cirra

Cristine

Thank you so much for your tips. I grabbed some apples and lemons with a ice pack and my headaches have ceased for now. Past two days have been horrible. I couldnt keep even water down and I had the fear of dehydrating but right now I feel way better. I am sipping water like you said as to not over whelm myself. If tomorrow morning I feel a head ach coming on i will grab a green apple and some salt. Again thank you so very much.

anonymous

thank you so much guys!Had a headache and now it has gone!Try the water 1 i drank about 3 glasses and it really worked! Tip… try lying down on white sheets i’m closing your eyes with no noises in the background, this works for me some people are different so it might not work for everyone! Hope it helps!

Arun Srivastava

mahdi

very nice remedies…and also you can add short naps…it works as well and also to massage sides of your head with your middle fingers simultaneously for about 5 minutes with close eyes, it really works, try it… thanks

George

Coffee quickly ends my headaches, BUT I believe that most of my headaches are due to caffeine withdrawal. I wake up in the morning with excrutiating headaches some days, but it always seems to be when I’ve skipped coffee for a day or two. Just a few sips of coffee and these horrible headaches quickly vanish. It’s really weird.

Melanie

These are great ways to get rid of a headache. I used to get headaches almost everyday. I couldn’t take it anymore. But when I look at these tips, my headache goes away fast. I can’t believe how fast it goes away. My headaches are only hours short because I now drink water throughout the day. It helps your head a l

jalen

Eps

Thanks! I’ve had a headache about all day and it was getting really bad. I don’t use painkillers because they don’t work for me anyway. Rubbed some peppermint oil onto my forehead and temples and it faded to almost nothing in about 10 seconds!

jimya

Sudarshan

I am Sudarshan age, 32 married, I am suffering from Headache Pain continues last 9 years. I am doing private job, this Headache Pain affect my professional carrier and relations badly I am sharing my symptoms which I seriously observe and note in last few month to if any one suggest me cure, food selection, avoid thing and any good Headache doctor. I will be great honor of that :

1. Always Open the Eye in Morning with heavy Headache, I never want to awake to get rid of this pain 2. After 1 hour pain label little low but seems converted in Headache Fever and whole day this Fever type Pain remain in forehead. 3. Increase anytime at noon, Evening, when feel hungry, Stomach is not clear, when change climate, cold Room to sunlight 4. Always feel Fever in forehead and fatigue, if I workout more the Label of Fever type headache pain increase 5. I don’t like Brightness of Bulb always try to OFF light. 6. Swatting start and little workout and too much in Summer.

William

I wish I was you just needing to go outside for fresh air in have to put up with a pounding headache and with flashing lights and sickness although I have found some medicines that work but these are amazing. I have just one question. How did you find out all of these amazing ways to get rid of all these poor people’s headaches?

Melanie Coleman

Headaches sucks real bad! I’ve had migraines for 49 yrs, since I was 5.I also get cluster, tension and rebound headaches from medication.. so most times if I were to take something for pain Id get a headache on top of a headache! Its hard having 15-20 of those hirrible migraines. So sick of it. Totally screwed everything up. I’m sick and tired of it! I’ve been praying for healing for decades. I hope God grants me a Miracle soon.. Hallelujah! Love and Blessings to all.

Peyton

Ariana

1. The water drinking sipping doesn’t work. 2. The ice pack melts and starts to get me a brain freeze. 3. Hot water will give me burns plus, I have no stress .-. Literally I’m only 9 years old. 4. Lemons can always be raw plus, we may hate drinks like this or just hate lemon. 5. I Don’t eat apples and to be honest, Apples and their seeds can kill you. 6. Not the right time to eat/drink with candy you may damage your teeth like coffee. To be honest, none of these could cure you or work if you have s headache just go to sleep or take nice cool bath or stop watching tv and turn off your devices then go to sleep comment in the next morning if one of my cures helped because i nailed it!

Sangavi Jeyathas

Anupnair

christie lesko

I woke up with a headache, so I ate a healthy meal drank a large glass of water and slept. Then when I woke up I took a refreshing shower, tempid (Luke warm). I used the shampoo and the water from the shower to refresh the muscles and calm the nerve endings using a massaging mode to clean and dissolve the stressful headache. When I finished my shower I noticed my headache was almost gone. Finally, I went for a vanilla bean frap. small. and now my head ache was gone!

Hannah

lauren kinstler

RJ

Tnxx a lot the lemon one really works…. And for the migraine people I would like to suggest u to take homeopathy treatment……… My aunt had migraine she took the homeopathy treatment now she’s is alright… I want u all to try homeopathy treatments………. 🙂

habbuy

MCProsperity

If you want to get rid of a headache, heres how I do it… pour a big glass of water, put a teaspoon of lemon juice, a very small piece of ginger root and about a tablespoon of honey in a glass of cold to room temperature water. Then lie down in bed in a dark and Quiet room for a while.. 1 hour or so or fall asleep if u can if your tired. No TV, music or electronics nearby. Make sure your comfortable and breathe… Best of luck. On a side note…Drink more water again afterwards the same way after you get up. Eat a banana too afterwards… potasium from the banana will help as well. Someone mentioned sports drinks.. be careful with those.. they are loaded with too much salt.. that will give u vertigo if u drink too much.. your room will be spinning on you. Keep it real.. and natural.

gta master

The Queen

Skyler

Use a cold rag or something of that sort and put it on your forehead. Why i say that is because when you had a fever as a child what did your mom do? She put a wet rag on your forehead! It soothes the pain

sara

Britney

Lynn

I have used some of these for a regular headache. They do work. I have been suffering with severe chronic migraines since I was17and they keep getting worse. I am on meds and botox for them. Most of my migraines are Debilitating. It takes a combination of things for me to Manage mine. PT,meds,chiropractor,diet,enough sleep and enough water. Also some of the things that have been suggested here. Sometimes they help sometimes they don’t.

Aaron

Melissa

I love using peppermint essential oil. Rub a bit in between your hands and then take a big whiff. Helps clear the sinuses and feels so good. Another remedy I think should be added to this is tinted glasses. It’s more of a remedy to fix the cause rather than the symptom. For people like myself that have photophobia, these glasses help with blocking out certain light and so my migraines don’t even start.

wes

lin

Hey I have migraines every day that are accompanied by dizziness and weakness. I’ve tried all of these things. I have gone to the doctor and they said to drink more water but it didn’t seem to help. If you know anything that would help please tell me.